Migraine Treatment for a Child

When treating a child for migraine headaches, it's important to know different methods in treating the ailment. It is also important to know and recognize the symptoms of migraine headaches. There is no known cause for migraines, so not all treatments will work for every person. There are, however, several different methods of treatments that may help in treating migraine symptoms.

Recognizing Symptoms

• The first step in treating any ailment is to recognize the symptoms. Some of the symptoms that are associated with migraine headaches in children are:

  1. Headache
  2. Vomiting
  3. Nausea
  4. Abdomen cramps
  5. Sensitivity to smells
  6. Sensitivity to light
  7. Paleness
  8. Extreme thirst
  9. Sweating

  Usually at least four of these symptoms are displayed during a migraine attack, however, as few as two or three can be evident.

Triggers

• Although migraine attacks have no known cause, it has been proven that several things can trigger a migraine headache. The following are some of the triggers associated with migraine attacks:

  1. Chocolate
  2. Shellfish
  3. Cheese
  4. Alcohol
  5. Nuts
  6. Sugar
  7. Caffeine
  8. Anxiety
  9. Depression
  10. Bright or flickering lights
  11. Fluorescent lights
  12. Prolonged activity

  It is best to avoid these triggers to prevent a migraine attack.

Treatment:

• While your first thought may be to administer medication to your child at the first sign of a migraine headache, this may not always be the first course of action. When a migraine attack occurs, the digestive system slows, so medication will be slow to act. The following is a list of the first things you should do at the first sign of a migraine attack:

  1. Take your child to a cool, dark room. Most children will be extremely sensitive to light during a migraine attack.

  2. Make sure that the room is away from loud activities or noises. Most children experiencing migraine headaches are extremely sensitive to sound.

  3. Apply ice to the affected area of the head. This does not always work, however, it does provide some relief to the child.

  4. Provide plenty of water. One of the symptoms to migraine headaches is extreme thirst.

  5. If the child is older than 5, administer ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) in the correct dose. Do not administer both drugs, only one. Advil and acetaminophen taken together can cause harmful effects.

Warning

• Before administering any medication to a child, you should contact your physician. If your child has reoccurring migraine headaches, you should make an appointment with your pediatrician. He will be able to advise you on other methods of treating migraine headaches as well as prescribe any medication that may be helpful or needed.